PRINCETON,  N.  J. 

BV  3630  .Z8  C45  1896 
Champion,  George,  1810-1841 i 
Rev.  George  Champion, 
Shelf.....      pioneer  missionary  to  the 


Rev.    GEORGE    CHAMPION 


PIONEER    MISSIONARY 


ZULUS 


SKETCH    OF   HIS    LIFE 


EXTRACTS   FROM    HIS   JOURNAL,    1834-8 


"  Thy  kingdom  come" 


Copyright  1896 

BY 

Sarah  E.  Champion. 


Printed  for  Private  Circulation. 


THE    TUTTLE,     MOREHOUSE    i    TAYLOR    PRESS, 
NEW    HAVEN,    CONN. 


REV.    GEORGE   CHAMPION 


"  George  Champion,  son  of    Henry  and   Ruth  Kimberly 
Robbins,  born  in  Westchester,  Conn.,  June  3d,  i8io." 


So  reads  the  genealogical  record,  its  authority 
the  family  Bible,  that  record  of  the  joys  and  sor- 
rows that  come  to  the  household. 

To  the  statistician  the  record  means  only  one  more 
inhabitant  of  that  little  New  England  town. 

To  the  chronicler  of  workers  in  the  Master's 
vineyard,  of  those  who  have  gone  forth  to  "  pre- 
pare the  way  of  the  Lord,"  to  "  lay  the  foundations 
that  another  may  build  thereon,"  this  new  life  is 
of  special  interest  and  we  ask  what  were  the  sur- 
roundings of  the  child — or  to  use  the  word  that 
now  seems  to  express  all  the  influence  of  birth  and 
home,  what  were  the  environments  of  this  new 
life? 


Colonel  Henry  Champion'  settled  in  Westchester 
in  1 750.  He  was  Commissary  General  under  Wash- 
ington. 

His  son  known  as  General  Henry  Champion^ 
also  lived  in  Westchester. 

His  son  Henry  Champion''  married  Ruth  Kim- 
berly  Robbins,  daughter  of  Rev.  Robert  (Yale 
1760)  and  Jerusha  Easterbrook  Robbins. 

He  died  1823,  at  the  age  of  41,  leaving  a  young 
widow  and  three  children,  a  son  George  aged 
twelve,  and  two  daughters  younger.  The  General 
took  his  widowed  daughter-in-law  and  the  three 
grandchildren  to  his  home.  Here  they  lived  for  a 
number  of  years.  George  the  pride  and  delight  of 
his  grandfather.  All  the  old  man's  hopes  seemed 
to  center  on  this  boy,  the  only  son  of  his  only  son. 
The  atmosphere  of  the  home  was  that  of  wealth 
and  luxury.  The  sternness  of  the  Puritan  was 
tempered  by  the  good  things  that  money  and 
refinement  gather. 

Here  George  grew  up,  his  godly  mother  teaching 
him  to  obey  the  Lord,  his  grandfather  instilling 
love  of  country  and  pride  of  birth  that  would  stoop 
to  no  meanness  or  allow  one  to  desecrate  his  name. 
At  eighteen  George   was   ready   for   College ;   he 


entered  the  Sophomore  class  at  Yale  in  the  autumn 
of  1828.  His  vacations  were  spent  at  his  grand- 
father's, and  the  old  General  watched  with  increas- 
ing pride  the  manly  development  of  the  youth  who 
was  to  continue  the  family  name  and  honor. 

As  a  little  thing  may  turn  the  course  of  the 
stream  as  it  quietly  wanders  among  its  native  rocks 
and  woods,  so  a  word  spoken  one  summer  day 
changed  the  course  of  this  young  man's  life.  In 
a  College  vacation,  while  riding  on  horseback 
through  a  quiet  wood  road,  he  stopped  at  a  brook 
to  water  his  horse.  As  he  did  so,  a  stranger  per- 
haps ten  years  his  senior  rode  up  from  the  opposite 
direction  and  stopped  for  the  same  purpose.  A  few 
words  of  courtesy  were  exchanged,  then  the  elder 
spoke  of  the  "water  of  life."  The  reply  of  the 
younger  showed  that  he  had  not  yet  drank  of  the  life- 
giving  stream  and  in  a  few  earnest  words  the  other 
urged  the  Saviour's  invitation  to  "Come."  They 
parted,  each  going  his  own  way  never  to  meet  again. 

Truly  we  "pass  this  way  but  once."  The  mes- 
sage delivered  was  the  means  through  the  Holy 
Spirit  of  leading  the  young  man  to  the  Saviour. 
The  consecration  was  entire,  all  that  he  was  or  had, 
belonged  to  and  should  be  the  Lord's. 


He  often  thought  of  the  stranger  who  had 
spoken  to  him  and  whose  face  he  remembered  per- 
fectly, but  might  never  see  again  on  earth.  "  I 
shall  know  him  in  heaven."  While  in  Africa  the 
Life  of  J.  Brainard  Taylor  was  sent  to  him  by 
friends  at  home.  Opening  it,  his  eye  fell  on  the 
likeness  of  the  sainted  Taylor  and  he  recognized 
the  face  of  his  unknown  friend. 

The  young  man  grew  in  grace,  he  came  to  be 
known  in  his  class  as  an  earnest  Christian.  He 
spent  hours  in  prayer,  and  those  occupying  adjoin- 
ing rooms  often  heard  him  praying  as  they  went 
to  sleep.  He  seemed  especially  to  realize  what  the 
Saviour  had  done  for  him  and  for  the  world  of  sin- 
ful men,  and  the  wish  grew  stronger  to  consecrate 
his  life  to  the  Master's  service  any  way  and  any- 
where that  the  Captain  of  his  salvation  might  call ; 
indeed  he  would  "  like  to  go  where  no  one  else 
wanted  to." 

The  spirit  of  missions  had  begun  to  enter  the 
hearts  and  homes  of  New  England.  Work  had 
been  begun  by  the  American  Board  in  India, 
Palestine  and  Syria — among  the  North  American 
Indians — at  the  Sandwich  Islands  and  China,  but 
as  yet  no  one  had  ventured  to  go  to  Africa  to  carry 


the  light  of  life  to  its  benighted  people.  Africa  was 
then  indeed  a  "dark  continent,"  only  the  borders  of 
its  12,000,000  square  miles  mapped  out;  the  rest 
marked  on  the  maps  of  that  time  as  "Great  Desert" 
and  south  of  that  "  Unexplored  territory."  Wild 
beasts,  savages  and  every  foe  to  the  white  man's 
health  and  life,  were  reported  as  existing. 

In  1833  Dr.  PhilHp  of  the  London  Missionary 
Society  had  made  a  tour  among  the  stations  of  that 
society  in  S.  Africa.  He  learned  some  interesting 
facts  in  regard  to  the  three  great  chiefs — Moshesh, 
Dingaan  and  Umzilikazi.  He  was  told  that  the 
first  was  anxious  for  a  missionary  and  it  was  hoped 
that  the  others  were  like-minded. 

This  report  of  Dr.  Phillip's  found  its  way  to  this 
country  and  led  Mr.  Champion,  who,  after  graduat- 
ing at  Yale  in  1831,  had  entered  the  theological 
seminary  at  Andover,  graduating  in  1834,  to  say 
"  Here  am  I,  send  me."  The  Zulus  were  "just  the 
people  among  whom  he  should  like  to  labor."  He 
offered  himself  to  the  American  Board  while  still 
at  Andover,  and  received  his  appointment  January, 
1834,  to  go  to  Zulu  land. 

This  decision  of  his  grandson  came  like  a  thun- 
derbolt to  the  old  General,  whose  plans  were  far 


otherwise.  He  urged  the  claims  of  the  widowed 
mother,  offered  him  all  his  property  or  he  would 
pay  the  expenses  of  five  to  go  as  substitutes. 
"  No,  he  felt  that  the  Lord  called  /n'm,  that  the  rich 
as  well  as  the  poor  were  called."  When  the  old 
gentleman  found  that  he  could  not  turn  his  grand- 
son from  his  purpose,  he  gave  him  $60,000  to  pay 
his  expenses  to  Africa  and  back  should  the  com- 
pany wish  to  return.  Messrs.  Grant,  Adams,  Lind- 
ley,  Wilson  and  Venable  had  also  been  appointed 
to  that  field  as  missionaries  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M. 

Mrs.  Abigail  Dodge — "Gail  Hamilton" — in  her 
memorial  of  Allen  W.  Dodge,  facetiously  says : 
"  He  evidently  admires  Mr.  Champion  for  throwing 
away  money,  and  an  American  missionary  for  the 
sake  of  having  his  own  way.  He  calls  it  doing  his 
Master's  service,  but  nothing  appears  in  the  record 
to  show  that  his  Master  could  not  have  been  just 
as  well  served  in  South  Africa  by  another  man  or 
that  Mr.  Champion  could  not  serve  Him  just  as 
well  in  North  America  as  in  South  Africa,  while 
he  would  have  had  his  grandfather's  money  to 
devote  to  his  Master's  service,  and  would  have 
comforted  the  heart  of  the  poor  old  man  who  was 
nearer  to   him   and  more  sacredly  his  charge  and 


duty  than  every  beastly  Zulu  of  them  all.  His 
own  way  may  be  the  best  way  for  a  man,  but 
if  so  it  is  so  because  it  is  his  own  way,  not 
because  it  is  the  Master's  way." 

Not  so  thought  Mr.  Champion. 

Personal  service,  not  a  substitute,  sent  many  a  man 
full  of  love  for  country  "  to  the  front "  in  the  days 
61-65,  when  the  contest  was  for  a  united  country,  for 
our  flag — that  not  a  star  should  be  taken  from  its  field, 
and  all  men  honored  the  man  who,  forgetting  business 
and  home  ties,  offered  his  services,  perhaps  his  life 
for  the  cause. 

George  Champion  was  married  November  14, 
1834,  to  Susanna  Larned,  dau.  of  John  and  Susanna 
(Moore)  Larned,  at  her  father's  house,  Webster, 
Mass.,  by  Rev.  Loren  Robbins. 

Mr.  C.  was  ordained  as  a  missionary  at  Colchester, 
Nov.  19  ;  returned  to  Webster  the  next  day. 

Here  we  take  up  his  journal.^"     He  writes  : 

"  Punctuality  is  the  life  of  business,  therefore  I 
commence  my  journal  November  20,  1834.  Came 
by  rail  to  Boston  311^  miles  in  two  hours. 

Nov.  21. — Have  been  on  board  the  brig  Burling- 
ton,  a  spacious   ship.     They  are  fitting  up  some 

*  Given  to  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  by  S.  E.  C. 


convenient  staterooms  and  there  is  a  large  cabin. 
My  heart  was  full  of  joy  as  I  trod  the  deck  ;  here  I 
am  to  be  for  three  months. 

Sat.  eve. — Eighteen  or  nineteen  dear  missionary 
brothers  and  sisters  met  at  Mr.  Hubbard's,  among 
them  those  who  are  to  go  with  us.  How  it  thrilled 
me  to  see  them. 

Sabbath  eve. — Just  from  an  overflow  meeting 
where  we  received  our  instructions.  A  very  solemn 
and  interesting  time.  Rev.  Mr.  Abeel  and  Mr. 
Winslow  addressed  us  very  appropriately.  We 
seem  to  be  really  entering  on  our  work  ;  the  sooner 
we  reach  our  fields  the  better.  I  long:  to  be  toilinsr 
away  unobserved  rather  than  be  a  spectacle  to  a 
gazing  congregation. 

Nov.  25. — The  missionary  is  making  up  his  out- 
fit. A  missionary  party  at  Mr.  Hill's  last  evening. 
Deacon  Safford  called  this  morning.  At  9  o'clock 
portrait  painter"^"  (Edwards),  at  10  miniature  painter 
(Blanchard).  Have  bought  hats,  caps,  tin,  hard- 
ware, and  been  to  cabinet  maker  and  to  missionary 
rooms  to  pack.  Our  southern  brethren  have  come 
almost  wholly  unprepared  and  we  must  wait  for  them 
to  fit  out.     Every  mail  brings  us  letters ;  we  must 

*  See  Frontispiece. 


keep  them  to  read  on  the  voyage.  Oh  the  kindness 
of  Christian  friends !  To-night  the  missionaries 
met  at  Dr.  Andrews'  to  become  better  acquainted. 
The  secretaries  are  as  kind  to  us  as  fathers. 

Thanksgiving. — I  spent  it  in  thanking  God  that 
he  has  led  me  so  far  toward  my  field  of  labor. 

Saturday. — Removed  to  vessel.  Now  good-bye, 
I  close  my  American  Journal." 

They  sailed  Dec.  3,  1834. 

"  Dec.  5. — Two  days  at  sea.  I  was  taken  from  a 
sick  bed  and  brought  on  board ;  it  was  considered 
doubtful  if  I  ought  to  start  with  the  others.  Oh 
joyful  hour  when  Dr.  Warren  gave  his  permission  ! 
I  think  I  am  better  now  than  the  others,  they  in 
their  berths,  I  up,  while  the  vessel  rocks  like  a 
cradle.  I  heard  from  my  berth  the  singing  of 
Heber's  hymn  '  From  Greenland's  icy  mountains,' 
as  the  vessel  left  the  dock.     I  joined  in  spirit. 

Wed.,  Dec.  10. — A  week  on  board.  A  new 
country,  everything  floating.  Some  choice  spirits 
in  our  little  band. 

Dec.  II. — All  sails  set  and  flying  on  the  wings  of 
the  wind.  Shall  soon  be  in  the  torrid  zone.  The 
captain  of  his  own  accord  proposed  prayer.  The 
crew  are  of  every  nation,  I  doubt  if  one  has  a  Bible. 


Sunday,  Dec.  14. — I  feel  like  a  pilgrim,  am 
2000  miles  from  home.  Service  on  deck — the  cap- 
stan the  pulpit.  Not  one  of  the  seamen  had  I 
venture  to  say  ever  seen  the  like  before.  I  spoke 
to  audience  of  20. 

Dec.  19. — Salt  water  to  wash  face  and  hands. 
Breakfast  generally  hash,  of  meat  or  fish  with  pota- 
toes. At  dinner  the  captain  helps  each  to  Benja- 
min's share  ;  dessert,  rice  pudding  well  stocked  with 
raisins — the  only  pudding  the  cook  knows  how  to 
prepare.  Occasionally  one  of  the  missionary  ladies 
makes  something  different.  They  have  taught  the 
cook  to  make  Indian  bread,  we  often  have  it  for 
tea.  The  goat  I  bought  in  Boston  is  a  great  com- 
fort. We  can  have  a  tablespoon  of  milk  for  our 
tea.  We  have  prayer  morning  and  evening.  The 
one  who  preaches  on  Sunday  is  pastor  for  the  week 
and  conducts  prayers.  Some  good  singers  among 
us.  Have  made  slow  progress  for  a  week.  The 
captain  thinks  if  Job  were  here,  his  patience  would 
give  out.  In  this  part  of  the  ocean  the  wind  often 
blows  in  a  single  day  from  every  point  of  the  com- 
pass. "Variables"  the  sailors  call  them.  Have 
distributed  three  Bibles  and  ten  Testaments  among 
the  crew  ;   wish  I  had  more. 


An  upset  lamp  made  a  little  fire  in  cabin,  soon 
extinguished.     Thank  God ! 

Dec.  23. — Seeing  a  sail  2  or  3  miles  away  made 
us  feel  that  we  were  not  alone  on  the  ocean, 
What  a  jewel  my  wife  is,  by  her  kind  attention  I 
think  she  has  won  the  love  of  all  here. 

Jan.  I,  1835. — Have  been  making  resolves.  I 
am  conscious  that  I  shall  not  be  able  to  push  for- 
ward as  I  have  done  and  live  long.  I  want  to  work 
among  the  Zulus  as  long  as  Dr.  Carey. 

Jan.  7.— At  equator,  did  not  see  Neptune.  Mer- 
cury 84°  to-day,  sun  vertical.  The  trade  winds 
temper  the  heat.  Sailing  at  the  rate  of  200  miles 
a  day  now.  Oh  the  water ;  mix  it  with  anything, 
the  scent  remains.  AH  went  on  deck  at  noon  to 
see  if  we  could  find  our  shadows. 

Jan.  19.  Preached  to-day.  It  is  hard  to  speak 
with  skies  for  sounding  board. 

Jan.  22. — A  breeze  as  the  sailors  say,  making  8 
knots  an  hour.  I  begin  to  feel  the  appalling  diffi- 
culty of  a  new  unwritten  language. 

Jan.  26. — In  ten  days  at  the  Cape  if  the  Lord 
wills.     Oh  joy  ! 

Feb.  I,  1835. — Repacking  for  embarking.  Dis- 
tributed  tracts.     Have    had    many    personal   talks 


»3 


with  the  sailors  from  time  to  time,  some  I  hope 
have  decided  to  lead  a  new  life. 

Feb.  4. — We  have  dwelt  with  delight  on  the 
various  providences  which  have  drawn  us  together. 
There  was  a  union  of  hearts  at  the  south  in  refer- 
ence to  this  very  object  before  they  knew  that  they 
should  be  appointed  to  this  mission.  There  was  a 
similar  harmony  at  the  north. 

Henry  Venable  is  from  Kentucky,  father  a  min- 
ister. Mrs.  Venable  was  Miss  Martin  from  Indiana, 
her  father  a  home  missionary.  She  had  been  long- 
ing to  go  as  a  foreign  missionary.  Met  Mr.  V. 
only  three  or  four  weeks  before  she  was  married 
and  came  to  Boston  ;  hence  her  scant  outfit,  but  the 
good  people  of  Boston  clubbed  together  and  worked 

from  morn  till  night.     Mr.  V is  a  real  tinker, 

made  a  rolling  pin  to-day  when  he  found  some  of 
the  ladies  using  a  bottle  to  roll  out  apple-dumpling 
crust. 

Alexander  Wilson  is  son  of  a  minister  in  North 
Carolina,  studied  medicine  two  years,  then  theology 
at  Princeton.  Mrs.  W.  was  Miss  Jane  Smith  from 
Richmond,  Va. 

Mr.  Grout  is  from  Pelham,  Mass.  Mrs.  G. 
was  Miss  H.  Davis  from  Holden,  Mass. 


Dr.  Lindley  is  son  of  a  minister,  native  of  Penn. 
Mrs.  L.  was  Miss  Lucy  Allen  a  native  of  Virginia, 
later  of  New  York,  an  intimate  friend  of  Mrs. 
Wilson  ;  they  agreed  together  to  go  to  the  heathen 
if  God  should  open  a  door. 

Dr.  Newton  Adams  is  from  E.  Bloomfield,  N.  Y., 
has  studied  medicine,  is  our  leader  in  music,  is  ready 
to  turn  his  hand  to  anything  and  like  the  wise  man 
"keepeth  his  words  till  afterward." 

Mrs.  A.  is  of  Dutch  extraction,  from  Auburn, 
N.  Y.  She  had  been  consecrated  to  the  work  for 
six  years  before  she  met  Mr.  A. 

Feb.  5,  1835. — Land  ho!  was  shouted  as  we 
were  at  dinner  to-day.  At  first  it  was  like  a  dim 
cloud  along  the  horizon.  Soon  Table  Mt.  rose  up, 
leading  the  van.     Our  hearts  leaped  for  joy. 

Feb.  6. — Safely  landed  at  Cape  Town.  The 
scenery  as  we  entered  the  harbor  was  grand.  Cape 
Town  is  a  snug  little  village  of  two-story  unchim- 
neyed  houses  at  the  foot  of  Table  Mt,  whose  table 
cloth  of  fog  overhangs  the  summit  for  a  distance  of 
two  miles." 

Our  modern  maps  give  us  little  idea  of  the  terri- 
torial divisions  of  Southern  Africa  at  this  date,  1835. 
There  was  no    Orange    Free   State,   no    Transvaal 


Republic,  and  the  English  Colonial  possessions  were 
very  limited  in  comparison  with  its  present  vast 
extent  from  the  Cape  to  the  Zambesi.  The  white 
people  were  chiefly  of  Dutch  origin. 

England  had  seized  the  Cape  as  a  part  of  Napo- 
leon's empire  at  the  time  of  its  dissolution  and  had 
not  seen  fit  to  restore  it  to  its  original  owners. 
She  had  held  it  about  thirty  years.  The  Dutch  set- 
tlers became  discontented  and  in  1833  they  decided 
to  move  to  the  northeast  to  be  free  from  British 
rule.  They  gave  to  the  country  the  name  Transvaal 
Republic  when  after  several  years  of  conflict  they 
obtained  full  possession.  We  know  it  as  The 
South  African  Republic  since  1886.  These  Boers 
or  peasants  are  the  descendants  of  the  Dutch  set- 
tlers in  S.  Africa  since  the  i6th  century,  who  still 
retain  their  national  character. 

We  left  the  missionaries,  twelve  in  number,  just 
landed  at  Cape  Town.  It  was  planned  in  Boston 
by  the  Board  that  Messrs.  Lindley,  Wilson  and 
Venable  should  establish  a  mission  about  1000 
miles  north  of  Cape  Town  and  400  west  from  Port 
Natal  in  the  kingdom  of  Umzilikazi,  one  of  the 
three  great  chiefs  of  southern  Africa.  This  was  to 
be  known  as  the  Inland  Mission.     The  other  three 


missionaries,  Messrs.  Adams,  Grout  and  Champion 
were  to  go  to  Port  Natal  and  thence  to  the  coun- 
try of  Dingaan,  another  of  the  great  chiefs.  This 
was  to  be  called  The  Maritime  Mission. 

The  journal  continues  : 

"Feb.  9,  1835. — Most  of  our  goods  detained  at 
Custom  House,  clothing  excepted;  they  must  remain 
there  till  we  leave  for  the  interior.     Learning  Dutch. 

Feb.  1 1. — Have  concluded  to  pay  duties  and 
take  our  goods,  our  departure  for  our  fields  seems 
delayed  ;  even  the  workers  from  Caffre  land  to  the 
north  of  us  are  coming  in  under  military  escort. 
The  Boers  are  fighting  the  natives  there. 

Feb.  12. — We  do  not  like  the  English  hours 
where  we  board,  we  intend  to  hire  a  house  while 
we  wait,  and  be  American.     It  will  be  cheaper." 

Just  six  weeks  after  their  arrival  at  Cape  Town 
the  six  missionaries  designed  for  the  Inland  Mission 
left  in  company  with  Rev.  Mr.  Wright  of  the 
London  Society,  who  had  come  down  from  Griqua- 
town,  600  miles  in  the  interior,  for  his  annual  sup- 
plies. They  stopped  for  several  months  at  G.  to 
rest  their  oxen  and  study  the  Sitibele  dialect,  which 
was  spoken  by  the  natives  for  whom  Mr.  Wright 
and  Mr.    Hughes  his  co-laborer,  worked,   and   by 


Umzilikazi's  people  lOO  miles  farther  north  where 
the  American  mission  was  to  be  established.  This 
was  done  the  next  spring  at  Mosika,  the  chief's 
residence. 

The  missionaries  destined  to  the  Zulu  country 
were  detained  at  Cape  Town  till  July  (1835),  on 
account  of  the  war  in  Kaffraria,  through  which  their 
route  lay.  In  the  meantime  we  find  Mr.  Champion 
is  not  idle  ;  he  says  in  his  journal : 

"May  31. — Have  made  my  first  attempt  at  preach- 
ing in  Dutch  in  a  neglected  part  of  the  town. 
Have  heard  that  the  cutter  in  which  Brother 
Adams  and  self  were  to  go  to  Natal,  but  were  prov- 
identially detained,  was  found  wrecked,  not  a  soul 
on  board.  A  Caffre  chief  who  had  been  held  as  a 
hostage  by  the  English  tried  to  escape  and  was  shot. 
The  English  governor  has  marched  up  through 
Caffre  land  to  Hintza  country,  murdered  him  and  all 
in  his  country  ;  8  or  10,000  acres  is  proclaimed  as 
belonging  to  England.     Oh  !  man's  avarice  ! 

June  5. — Visited  the  Dutch  burying-ground,  no 
stone  to  tell  where  Brother  Warren  was  laid.  Saw 
the  tomb  of  Mrs.  Smith  and  Dr.  Vanderkemp  with 
this  epitaph  : 


tS 


Stay  friend  of  Jesus,  drop  a  pious  tear 

The  dust  of  sainted  Mother  Smith  lies  here, 

And  next  her  Vanderkemp  ;  now  go  thy  way 

Go  and  do  likewise  to  thy  dying  day. 

For  Zion's  sake  employ  thy  gifts  and  prayers 

So  shall  thy  life  and  death  be  lovely,  be  like  theirs. 

June  13. — The  cannon  at  the  castle  has  just 
fired,  saying  the  sun  is  down.  Probably  no  one  but 
myself  considers  this  Saturday-eve  as  a  part  of  the 
Sabbath.  A  note  from  Mr.  R.  saying  he  will  make 
no  charge  for  acting  as  our  agent.  This  saves  the 
Board  about  $100  a  year. 

June  15. — Winter  rains  have  set  in. 

Sunday,  June  27. — Started  a  new  school  in  a 
neglected  part  of  the  town.  A  room  had  been 
hired,  the  children  notified,  not  a  soul  was  there. 
Soon  one  came  in,  then  we  went  out  to  "  compel " 
them  to  come  in,  gathered  50  or  60.  Ten  knew 
their  A,  B,  C,  or  had  heard  of  God.  Some  Mahom- 
edans.  Dr.  Adams  just  back  from  Dingaan's  coun- 
try. The  chief  had  heard  through  some  Dutch 
farmers  of  missionaries  as  ones  who  could  teach  his 
people  to  read  and  write.  He  says  he  should  like 
some.     We  wish  to  go  there. 

July  2. — Packing,  start  for  Port  Elizabeth,  Al- 
goa  Bay,  by  sea.  We  are  all  going  though  Dr. 
19 


Phillip  would  like  to  have  some  of  us  stay  here 
and  work. 

July  6. — Seventy  children  came  to  S.  S.  yesterday. 

July  lo. — Streets  flooded  thereabout.  It  is  nearly 
the  time  of  a  Mahomedan  festival  and  the  priests 
demand  so  much,  the  people  steal  to  satisfy  them." 
On  the  eve  of  the  departure,  Mr.  Champion  wrote 
to  Dr.  Anderson. 

"Our  stay  at  the  Cape  has  refreshed  our  spirits. 
It  has  taught  us  many  things  in  reference  to  African 
missions  that  we  should  not  have  learned  otherwise. 
We  have  not  been  out  of  employment.  Our  first 
attention  has  been  directed  to  whatever  would  sub- 
serve the  interest  of  our  mission,  but  we  have 
preached  in  the  house  or  by  the  wayside.  Every 
evening  almost  we  have  had  some  service.  These 
have  often  been  well  attended  and  we  hope  not  in 
vain."     Again  from  journal : 

"July  23. — Started  but  becalmed.  Our  vessel,  the 
Kuysna,  is  the  first  of  its  size  built  in  Africa ;  the 
timber  is  from  the  K.  river.  Only  the  second 
officer  seems  to  be  sober — were  not  our  Heavenly 
Father  at  the  helm  I  should  have  fears. 

July  25. — Tossing  about  with  head  winds.  No 
nearer  Algoa    Bay  than    five   days  ago.     Not   an 


officer  on  deck.  We  find  our  captain  has  been 
engaged  in  the  slave  trade,  carrying  his  colored 
brothers  from  the  Congo  to  Charleston,  S.  C.  As 
he  tells  it  now  he  adds — "  May  God  forgive  me." 
The  cup  is  often  at  his  mouth.  He  thinks  it  can't 
harm  an  old  sailor. 

Aug  I. — Now  a  head  wind.  Everything  that 
we  have  yet  experienced  in  our  missionary  work 
proclaims  patience. 

Aug.  7. — Yesterday,  our  tenth  day  out,  we  had  a 
sight  of  Port  Elizabeth,  so  named  from  the  wife  of 
Sir  R.  Donkin,  a  former  governor  of  the  Colony.  A 
fleet  of  a  thousand  sail  could  float  in  Algoa  Bay.  The 
village  rises  on  the  hill  side  ;  we  have  anchored  a  mile 
and  a  half  from  shore  ;  surf  boats  drawn  over  a  rope 
stretched  from  ship  to  shore  are  the  only  way  to 
reach  terra  firma.  As  government  is  using  them,  we 
must  wait.  As  one  after  another  reach  the  end  of 
the  surf  boat  line  a  Hottentot  catches  you  in  his 
arms   and  wades  to  dry  land. 

Aug.  8. — We  are  at  Rev.  Mr.  Robson's  of  the 
London  Missionary  Society.  He  has  a  neat 
chapel  on  the  hill,  his  house  adjoining.  This  land 
once  belonged  to  the  Caffres,  but  the  English 
are  cruelly    exterminating   them.      We   wait    here 


expecting  to  go  to  Bethelsdorp.  God  has  kept 
us  from  great  dangers  on  our  voyage  with  a 
drunken  captain.  I  think  it  has  been  in  answer  to 
prayers. 

Aug.  lo,  1835. — At  B. — at  house  of  London 
Missionary  Society. 

Aug.  19. — Wife  and  I  settled  in  a  little  three- 
room  house.  Brothers  G.  and  A.  in  a  large  house 
though  living  separately.  The  war  continues,  so 
the  way  to  Dingaan  and  his  country  is  dark. 

Aug.  24. — Another  Sabbath.  A  joy  to  be  in 
this  missionary  village,  to  hear  the  natives  sing  and 
pray.  Three  missionaries  are  here  from  Madagas- 
car, returning  to  the  Cape.  The  idolatrous  queen 
has  expelled  them.  The  mass  of  the  people  do  not 
side  with  her,  but  she  is  such  a  tyrant  she  would 
bind  even  their  thoughts.  She  has  forbidden  the 
natives  to  think  of  Christ  and  to  speak  His  name 
is  death.  The  only  hope  seems  to  be  that  some 
foreign  power  interfere.  They  left  Mr.  Jones 
behind  to  revise  the  Bible,  and  there  are  130  con- 
verts. Oh,  God  watch  the  seed  sown  !  It  is  very 
important  to  enlighten  the  chief  of  a  heathen  coun- 
try. The  people  are  suspicious  there  is  a  plot 
underlying  English  missionary  movements. 


This  evening  we  went  to  the  Bay  and  delivered 
a  temperance  address — walked,  which  is  not  fash- 
ionable. A  native  may  do  it.  Intemperance  pre- 
vails here,  especially  among  government  officials. 
Every  vessel  brings  brandy.  Government  supplies 
its  2  or  3000  troops  with  it.  The  spirit  bill  will  be 
a  heavy  item  of  the  Caffre  war. 

Aug  31. — Good  news  from  the  war.  Macoma 
and  Charlie,  two  native  chiefs,  desire  "  to  be  the 
governor's  children  ;  "  the  latter  has  retracted  some 
of  his  tyrannical  measures. 

Sept.  3. — A  vessel  from  America  bringing  letters, 
the  first  words  from  home  since  we  sailed  Dec.  5. 
Oh  !  how  good  to  hear  !  I  am  translating  a  sermon 
into  Dutch.  It  looks  decidedly  as  if  two  or  three 
of  us  had  better  go  inland,  not  more.  The  natives 
are  so  suspicious,  they  cannot  possibly  see  why  we 
come,  it  must  mean  trade. 

Sept.  8,  1835. — Monthly  concert  last  evening, 
precious  meeting.  A  missionary  from  Madagascar 
present,  driven  from  his  work.  Letters  from  home 
to  May  28. 

Sept.  13. — A  Hottentot,  through  an  interpreter, 
preached  to  the  Caffres.  Oh  'tis  a  happiness  to  be 
a  missionary  in  Africa. 


Sept.  17. — Joyful  news  of  peace.  The  chiefs 
are  to  retain  their  country  and  Hve  as  British 
subjects. 

Sept.  23. — Oh,  if  I  could  give  you  an  idea  of  the 
flowers  of  the  country,  every  hue  and  shape.  Some 
one  collected  105  distinct  species  in  4^/^  hours, 
within  a  mile,  and  in  the  unfavorable  season, 
December.  Brother  Grout  returned  from  Grahams- 
town,  could  not  see  the  chief.  The  governor  forbids 
all  persons  passing  into  the  new  territory. 

Oct.  17. — In  my  walk  to-night  as  the  sun  was 
setting,  was  very  disconsolate  about  the  conversion 
of  the  African  tribes  to  God,  when  I  suddenly  came 
to  a  clump  of  trees  where  a  Caffre  was  pouring  out 
his  heart  in  his  native  tongue  to  God.  I  begin  to 
read  the  language  a  little,  study  it  every  day. 

Oct.  28. — A  temperance  meeting  lasting  four 
hours.     Some  of  the   Hottentots  are  good  orators." 

At  last  Providence  seemed  about  to  open  the 
way  for  reaching  their  desired  field  of  labor. 
Under  date  of  Nov.  14,  1835  he  writes  : 

"  A  vessel  soon  to  leave  for  Dutch  Natal,  we  can 
have  passage  and  an  interpreter.  Find  the  custom- 
house officers  must  give  us  permission  to  leave  the 
Colony.     Preached  in  Dutch. 

»4 


Nov.  2  1. — Sun  eclipsed,  thermometer  fell  sev- 
eral degrees,  disc  partly  covered.  I  hear  that  at 
Nitenkage  the  natives  have  a  prayer  meeting  at  the 
Mission  Chapel  before  sunrise  and  end  at  sunrise, 
when  they  must  be  back  to  wait  on  their  masters, 
who  will  be  waking. 

Dec.  20,  1835. — By  God's  grace  we  are  at  last 
anchored  at  Natal.  Sailed  on  the  7th  from  Algoa 
Bay,  a  boisterous  passage  marked  by  special  provi- 
dences.    A  son,  George,  born  Dec.  17,  1835. 

Dec.  22. — We  hope  it  will  please  God  to  make 
this  the  scene  of  our  future  labors.  Here  we  would 
live  and  die.  We  left  Mrs.  Grout  and  Mrs.  Adams 
at  Bethelsdorp  and  my  wife  at  Port  Elizabeth. 
We  must  find  out  if  we  can  settle  in  Dingaan's  land 
before  our  wives  join  us.  The  country  seems  fer- 
tile, well  watered  and  adapted  to  fruit  of  all  kinds. 
We  had  brought  a  wagon  with  us,  fortunate,  as 
there  is  only  one  in  the  place ;  got  oxen  here. 
To-day  one  man  brought  us  some  green  corn, 
another  milk,  told  us  the  names  of  things  and  asked 
our  names  in  return.  They  do  not  beg.  Are 
large,  finely  developed,  wear  almost  no  clothing. 
Thermometer  80°. 

Dec.  24. — We  hope  the  king  is  favorably  inclined, 


at  least  he  is  anxious  for  beads  !  I  tried  to  tell  a 
few  natives  whom  I  have  met  of  the  Redeemer, 
but  their  stare  of  wonder  seemed  to  say  no,  it  can- 
not be  !  We  must  not  go  forward  till  summoned 
by  the  king.     In  the  meantime  we  sow  seed. 

Dec.  28. — Our  first  Sabbath  in  Natal,  preached 
to  about  1 2  natives.  All  sat  a  la  Turk  on  mats. 
The  white  man  seems  respected.  We  have  access 
to  thousands. 

Dec.  28. — Visited  a  native  krall,  one  must  enter 
on  hands  and  knees.  We  hear  that  the  king  has 
killed  his  rain-makers,  probably  in  anger,  as  he 
believes  in  witchcraft. 

Jan.  I,  1836. — Occupied  with  the  language  all 
day.  I  feel  more  and  more  the  importance  of 
becoming  master  of  it  as  soon  as  possible.  An 
interpreter  is  but  a  poor  instrument  for  conveying 
the  true  language  of  a  man's  heart.  This  language, 
the  Zulu,  seems  similar  to  the  Kaffer.  It  is  beau- 
tiful in  harmony.  They  call  the  cannon  By-and-by. 
Lieutenant  Farewell  brought  the  first  one  to  these 
shores,  and  when  asked  by  the  natives  to  fire  it, 
replied  '  by-and-by.'  I  was  able  to-day  to  blunder 
out  without  an  interpreter,  why  we  had  come  to 
these  shores. 

36 


Jan.  4. — Our  bullocks  came  to-day.  10  are 
counted  a  'span.'  We  have  obtained  articles  for 
barter  consisting  principally  of  small,  yellow,  white, 
red,  blue  and  black  beads  3  to  4  shillings  a  pound. 
We  have  80  or  90  pounds.  This  with  some  cloth 
cost  $67.  A  part  is  for  the  customary  present  to 
the  king.  The  king  wears  small  white  and  large 
red  beads.     It  is  death  for  a  subject  to  do  so. 

Yesterday  an  English  and  Kaffir  service.  Inter- 
preter animated,  it  seems  as  if  I  should  have  no 
greater  happiness  than  to  preach  to  the  natives  in 
their  own  tongue.  In  the  evening  a  Hottentot 
woman  came  to  talk  of  her  troubles. 

To-day  at  10.30  after  much  ado  we  started  on 
our  journey  to  the  king.  A  Hottentot  driver 
engaged.  We  do  not  go  without  fears  as  to  the 
result  of  our  journey."  The  distance  was  about 
150  miles  and  took  two  weeks. 

Extracts  from  the  journal  during  these  few  weeks 
are  as  follows : 

"The  country  is  evidently  capable  of  supporting 
a  large  population,  but  wars  have  killed  and  driven 
off  the  people.  For  70  miles  between  Natal  and 
Dingaan  it  is  an  uninhabited  country.  There  are 
few  rocks,  soil  very  rich  from  the  decayed  grass  for 


centuries.  Before  reaching  the  bed  of  streams  there 
is  generally  a  steep  descent,  often  perpendicular 
and  dangerous.  Our  oxen  are  docile,  each  knows 
its  name,  we  travel  about  3  miles  an  hour,  heat 
oppressive.  Have  seen  no  wild  animals,  but  at 
night  we  light  fires  to  frighten  elephants  whose 
tracks  we  see,  and  to  drive  off  mosquitos.  The 
honey  birds  come  round  us  chattering,  and  our 
men  follow  to  find  the  honey ;  have  brought 
us  some.  We  must  ask  permission  of  the  king 
to  enter  his  country,  we  can  now  see  it  in  the 
distance." 

Jan.  6,  1836. — Under  date  of  January  8  he  writes  : 
"Last  night  I  tried  to  tell  15  or  20  Zulus  about 
the  Bible.  They  listened  eagerly  ;  had  never  seen  a 
book  and  had  no  idea  of  a  thought  being  commu- 
nicated on  paper.  Said  they  would  like  to  have 
teachers  if  the  king  allowed  it." 

Again  he  writes  : 

"  Crossed  the  river,  the  oxen  swimming  and  draw- 
ing the  wagon,  we  and  the  goods  crossing  in  the 
boat.  One  of  the  skin  boats  was  partly  eaten  by 
wolves  last  night.  Had  to  re-pack  after  all  were 
over.  Kralls  becoming  more  numerous,  one  had 
as  many  as  30  huts  with  the  large  cattle  pen  in  the 


center.  Cattle  small  in  size  but  fine.  When  we 
stop  for  the  night  have  many  visitors. 

My  spectacles  gave  much  amusement.  At  a 
flower  under  a  magnifying  glass,  and  a  looking- 
glass,  they  wondered  and  wondered.  Plenty  of 
milk  brought  us. 

Sunday,  Jan.  lo — 30  or  40  visitors,  2  or  3  chiefs, 
all  very  curious.  We  must  be  cautious  till  we  have 
seen  the  king. 

nth. — The  king's  mother  came  out  to  meet  us. 
She  wanted  a  present.  One  was  given  her.  She 
wanted  everything.  We  had  not  seen  such  a  beg- 
ging spirit  before.  She  wore  only  a  cloth  petticoat 
and  a  dirty  kerchief  round  her  shoulders.  We 
hastened  away  from  her.  She  has  sent  our  message 
to  her  son  and  furnished  us  a  Zulu  guide  to  conduct 
us  on  our  way.  The  field  for  work  will  be  large 
indeed  if  the  king  grants  us  favor.  At  every  krall 
the  people  flock  out  to  see  us  and  follow  us — the 
children  are  afraid.  Would  that  the  regard  shown 
us  sprang  from  our  object.  No,  they  are  heathen. 
This  evening  before  supper  we  saw  a  man  hastening 
over  the  adjacent  heights.  It  was  our  messenger 
returned  from  the  king.  It  will  take  us  two  days 
to  reach  him. 


Jan.  15. — Started  this  morning  early,  a  crowd 
accompanying  us  but  not  far.  At  noon  stopped  at 
a  large  krall.  A  very  old  man  met  us.  Did  not 
know  his  age.  Writing  home ;  the  people  much 
interested  to  see  me  put  words  on  paper. 

Jan.  18. — Arrived  Sat.  Jan.  16  at  3  p.  m.,  at 
Gunquuthlorn,  Dingaan's  capital,  but  did  not  see 
him  till  the  next  morning.  He  sent  us  some  flour, 
sour  milk  and  suet.  The  people  crowded  about 
but  might  not  touch  us,  till  the  king  had  seen  us ; 
such  is  the  rule.  Expected  a  strange  Sabbath  and 
so  it  proved.  The  king  sent  for  us  early  ;  of  course 
our  presents  must  go  also.  Providentially  our 
interpreter  had  often  been  to  the  king.  He  was 
sitting  outside  his  cattle  krall  in  a  large  old-fash- 
ioned chair  which  had  just  been  given  him.  He 
wore  a  long  red  plush  cloak.  For  several  minutes 
silence,  then  he  asked  for  his  presents,  examined 
every  thing  minutely,  especially  razor,  umbrella, 
pictures  and  the  lock  on  a  small  tin  trunk  given  him. 
Seemed  pleased  with  all.  In  the  afternoon  after  we 
had  returned  to  our  camping  ground  he  sent  us  a 
goat ;  was  sorry  we  had  been  without  meat  so  long. 

Jan.  19. — Yesterday  the  king  took  us  through 
his  palace.     It  consists  of  several  houses  separate 


from  others,  and  stands  on  the  highest  ground. 
House  perhaps  20  feet  high.  He  led  us  from  room 
to  room.  We  saw  60  or  70  girls  dancing  with 
some  harmony  and  precision.  His  houses  are  very 
neat ;  though  high  inside,  you  must  creep  to  enter. 
He  is  very  vain  and  a  tyrant,  his  people  are  in 
abject  fear.  Is  still  in  doubt  as  to  why  we  have 
come,  says  he  must  consult  his  two  chief  men  as  to 
whether  we  may  stay. 

19-21. — The  king  sends  for  us  almost  every  day, 
asks  questions,  inspects  our  things,  sometimes  wants 
them. 

Apr.  21. — Walked  for  half  an  hour  round  the 
town.  It  is  in  the  shape  of  an  oval.  There  are 
said  to  be  1000  huts  in  the  town.  Cattle  kralls  in 
the  center.  At  the  smith  shops  they  were  making 
shields  large  enough  to  protect  the  entire  person. 
The  king  has  several  large  dogs  of  which  he  is 
fond  ;  has  also  snakes  for  pets. 

Jan.  22. — The  Lord  has  disposed  the  haughty 
king  to  grant  us  all  that  at  present  we  could  wish. 
He  asked  us  our  reason  for  coming,  it  was  given 
and  a  Bible  shown  him.  He  asked  if  men  knew 
anything  of  God  before  Christ  came,  and  why  God 
did  not  stop  all  sin  and  misery.     He  finally  said  we 


might  stay  but  his  chief  men  must  locate  us. 
They  wish  to  place  us  at  a  point  several  miles  dis- 
tant where  there  are  5  or  6000  people.  The  king 
said  if  you  succeed  I  will  bring  you  into  the  heart 
of  my  dominions.  We  were  mutually  pleased.  It 
is  all  we  ask,  the  work  must  be  gradual. 

We  have  found  no  trace  of  religion.  10  o'clock 
went  to  the  king.  He  was  eating  when  we  arrived  ; 
was  told  that  no  one  might  cough  in  his  presence. 
When  permission  to  enter  was  given  we  crawled  in, 
the  king  was  lying  down  covered  with  a  coarse 
white  blanket,  his  head  on  a  wood  bolster.  Six  or 
eight  girls  sat  round,  their  head  dresses  hung  on  the 
wall  behind  them.  King  inquisitive  as  usual — 
asked  how  we  learned  to  read. 

Jan.  23. — Started  for  the  destination  the  king 
decrees.     Country  fine,  it  ascends  as  you  go  inland. 

Jan.  26. — Have  crossed  the  '  Mts.  of  the  Sun.' 
Have  left  my  dear  wife  for  perhaps  six  months. 
Dr.  Adams  and  Grout  will  go  back  to  the  Colony 
for  our  wives  and  effects.     I  remain  at  Natal  alone." 

I  quote  from  the  "Jubilee  of  American  Missions 
in  Natal." 

"  On  reaching  Bethelsdorp  Mr.  Grout  found  Mrs. 
G.  rapidly  sinking  in  consumption.     She  died  Feb. 


24  (1836),  full  of  faith  and  rejoicing  that  she  had 
been  counted  worthy  to  leave  her  country  and 
home  on  such  an  errand.  About  a  month  later 
Messrs.  Grout  and  Adams  accompanied  by  Mrs. 
Champion  started  from  Bethelsdorp  for  Port  Natal 
taking  the  overland  route  through  Kaffirland.  Good 
oxen  were  so  scarce  at  Natal  that  this  seemed  the 
only  way  to  reach  Mr.  Champion  in  Dingaan  coun- 
try. Although  the  distance  was  only  600  miles 
they  were  two  months  on  the  journey.  For  the 
greater  part  of  the  way  there  was  no  road ;  at  one 
time  they  travelled  for  fourteen  days  without  seeing 
a  human  habitation.  At  times  the  grass  was  above 
the  oxen's  backs." 

But  we  left  Mr.  Champion  on  his  way  to  the 
place  designated  by  the  king  and  his  councillors. 
He  pressed  on  over  the  fertile  country,  fording 
streams,  at  times  in  danger  but  sure  that  he  was  on 
the  way  to  his  work — was  in  his  work,  for  he  speaks 
daily  of  acquiring  more  and  more  knowledge  of  the 
Zulu  language. 

"  Feb.  7. — Had  to  build  a  raft  to  cross  a  river. 

Feb.  10. — To  me  is  left  the  task  of  choosing 
where  to  locate.  I  need  wisdom.  No  white 
brother  to  consult  with.     God  guide  me. 


Feb.  19. — Have  looked  about.  Have  selected  a 
spot  west  of  the  Umlass  river,  on  high  ground  near 
its  banks.  You  see  the  Bay  of  Natal  in  the  dis- 
tance. Within  3  or  4  miles  of  here  there  are  30  or 
40  kralls,  perhaps  1000  people. 

Feb.  20,  Sunday. — About  100  Zulus  assembled 
under  some  large  trees.     I  tried  to  tell  them  of  Jesus. 

Feb.  25. — Am  to  have  a  hut  built  near  a  krall  so 
as  to  get  the  language  faster.     May  God  help  me  ! 

Mch.  3,  1836. — Am  settled  in  my  new  hut,  6  or 
7  feet  high,  10  or  12  in  circumference,  one  window; 
everything  about  me  is  so  new,  I  hardly  know  how 
to  act.  I  hear  constantly  the  smooth  flowing  lan- 
guage it  is  my  object  to  learn.  About  20  huts 
near  me. 

March  4. — The  Zulu  men  are  busy  making  bas- 
kets. They  weave  them  close  enough  to  hold 
liquids.  The  women  are  working  in  the  gardens 
and  fields.  The  men,  however,  assist  in  keeping 
watch  at  night  when  the  corn  is  ripening,  or  the 
wild  pigs  would  destroy  it.  The  men  are  not  as 
indolent  as  I  expected. 

March  7. — Began  my  school  to-day.  About  a 
dozen  children,  some  of  them  with  babies  tied  to 
their  backs,  the    mothers  in    the   gardens.     These 


made  much  ado  at  being  so  near  a  white  man,  whom 
they  fear  worse  than  a  lion. 

May  7. — After  two  months  I  see  fruit  of  my 
labors. 

May  8. — My  house  has  been  brought  up  from 
Natal  on  men's  shoulders.  I  feel  like  a  missionary. 
Another  man  has  decided  to  give  up  his  design  of 
taking  a  second  wife.     Am  building  a  school  house. 

May  22. — Yesterday  was  truly  happy  to  intro- 
duce my  wife,  Brother  and  Sister  Adams  and 
Brother  Grout  to  the  spot  selected  for  the  station. 
All  my  solitariness  is  gone.  We  are  sad,  for  Mrs. 
Grout  "is  not." 

June  2. — Our  goods  have  arrived  at  Port  Natal 
from  Algoa  Bay.  We  hope  to  go  at  once  to  the 
king. 

June  21. — Went  to  the  king's  krall,  found  he 
was  away  queUing  a  rebellion.     Returned. 

Aug.  3. — Several  shocks  of  earthquake. 

Aug.  15. — We  hear  that  the  Zulu  war  that  has 
occupied  Dingaan  so  much  is  over. 

Aug.  28. — Held  our  meeting  to-night  in  a  room 
with  wall  and  roof.  We  are  now  to  separate. 
The  king  has  given  permission  for  a  station  near 
him,  and  wife  and  I  are  to  go.     Brother  Adams 


remains  here.  Brother  Grout  will  help  us  both  as 
seems  best.  The  two  stations  will  be  about  80 
miles  apart. 

Started  Tuesday,  Aug.  30,  1836  to  work  among 
Dingaan's  own  people.  The  children  of  the  school 
accompanied  us  to  the  foot  of  the  hill.  Our  wagons 
drawn  by  16  oxen,  each  wagon  has  its  driver  and 
leader.  We  have  a  few  goats  and  fowls.  Travel 
not  over  10  miles  a  day.  One  day  saw  six  lions 
and  many  buffaloes.  The  former  walked  off  delib- 
erately, the  latter  fled.  One  day  our  men  shot  two 
buffaloes. 

Sept.  2,  1836. — Pitched  our  tent  in  the  king's 
country  at  last,  and  began  to  arrange  our  goods. 
Wild  dogs  cause  us  much  annoyance  at  night. 

Sept.  16. — Brother  Grout  has  seen  the  king;  a 
site  selected  for  station.  Dingaan  was  very  inquis- 
itive as  to  our  religion  ;  was  rather  afraid  of  the 
idea  that  dead  folks  live  again,  as  he  has  lately 
killed  some  of  his  captains.  No  one  dares  to  ask 
why  he  does  it.  We  find  the  mothers  scare  the 
children  by  saying,  "  I'll  give  you  to  the  white  man, 
who  will  eat  you  up." 

Sept.  22,  1836. — At  last  after  22  months  of 
wandering  by  sea  and  land,  we  are  safe  arrived  at 

36 


(D.  V.)  oitr  mission  station.  May  God  bless  the 
work  !  The  tents,  one  for  Brother  G.,  the  other 
for  wife  and  I,  made  of  the  canvas  covers  of  our 
wagons,  make  us  think  of  the  time  the  children  of 
Israel  abode  in  tents. 

Sept.  27. — Are  trying  to  make  ourselves  com- 
fortable till  we  have  a  good  dwelling.  Have  brought 
only  the  household  goods  that  are  absolutely  neces- 
sary. Very  hot  day  and  night.  A  vast  cloud  of 
locusts  passed  to-day  for  over  an  hour.  Air  looked 
full  of  snow. 

Oct.  2. — Sabbath,  visited  two  kralls. 

Oct.  9. — Sabbath,  100  came  and  listened  to  the 
word  with  some  distraction  and  taking  of  snuff. 
We  had  told  the  people  of  a  day  of  rest.  To- 
day we  saw  only  a  few  women  working  in  the 
gardens. 

Oct.  15. — The  king  has  heard  that  we  had  some 
shaggy  blankets  and  has  sent  for  some.  It  is  not 
safe  to  refuse,  and  shall  go  with  a  roll  and  explain 
why  we  have  them  and  why  we  wish  to  keep  some. 
We  hear  that  he  tells  the  people  they  need  not 
listen  to  us  ;  he  will  tell  them  what  we  tell  him. 
Oh,  the  despotism.  "Yes,  Father,"  must  be  the  reply 
to    every  demand    however   cruel.     None    but    he 


may  eat  sugar-cane  or  sweet  potatoes.  If  one  of 
his  subjects  displeases  him,  he  is  destroyed  and  his 
cattle  go  to  the  king. 

Oct.  1 8. — The  king  said  he  wanted  to  be  taught 
and  the  children  might  be,  but  the  blankets,  why 
had  I  brought  so  few,  he  must  have  the  rest ;  was 
angry  and  dismissed  me.  His  heart  is  in  God's 
hand. 

Oct.  19. — He  says  he  must  have  all  the  blankets. 
We  wanted  to  buy  a  cow  with  one.  Evidently 
some  one  has  influenced  him  against  us. 

Oct.  21. — Brother  G.  has  gone  back  with  the 
rest  of  the  blankets. 

Ginani.  "  I  am  with  you,"  This  Jesus  said  to 
his  first  missionaries,  and  this  we  would  name  our 
station.     My  wife  suggested  the  name. 

Oct.  24. — It  is  said  that  the  king  forbids  the 
people  to  come  to  us.  They  bring  us  milk  at 
night  and  hasten  away.  Yesterday  Sabbath,  not  a 
single  visitor.     We  did  not  expect  this  trial. 

Two  days  ago  a  messenger  came  to  tell  us  that 
our  grass  storehouse  by  the  river  was  on  fire.  We 
hastened  over,  all  our  furniture  and  most  valued 
articles  gone,  especially  my  books.  I  try  to  say, 
"  it  is  well." 

38 


Oct.  29. — Brother  G,  returned,  found  the  king 
pleasant.  He  sent  us  several  cows,  but  they  are 
poor  specimens. 

Nov.  7. — Yesterday  Sabbath,  saw  no  one  at 
work.  The  king  is  angry  against  the  whites  of 
Natal,  but  seems  to  favor  us. 

Nov.  14,  1836. — In  our  house.  It  is  built  chiefly 
of  stone.  Three  8x10  ft.  rooms,  no  doors  or 
windows  yet,  and  not  all  thatched. 

Nov.  15. — A  chief  came  with  eight  boys,  he 
wished  to  see  what  we  did  to  them  when  we  taught 
them. 

Dec.  31. — For  the  past  month  we  have  been 
trying  to  make  our  surroundings  more  comfortable 
but  our  real  work  seems  at  a  standstill.  One  excuse 
or  another  keeps  the  people  away  on  Sunday.  A 
few  women  come  regularly.  I  am  making  progress 
in  the  language. 

A  boy  came  to  us  for  refuge.  He  and  another 
boy  by  accident  stepped  on  a  bead  dress  belonging 
to  one  of  the  king's  women  ;  the  other  boy  was 
killed  at  once.  We  dare  not  keep  the  one  who 
escaped. 

Jan.  I,  1837. — Four  men  came  in  search  of  the 
boy. 


Jan.  2. — I  killed  a  snake,  have  killed  several 
before.  It  has  frightened  some  of  the  Zulus.  I 
had  killed  a  man,  they  say,  for  the  spirit  of  a  man 
dwelt  in  the  snake. 

Jan.  7.  It  is  pleasant  to  hear  of  new  paths 
opened  in  this  dark  land.  Two  traders  have  arrived 
at  Natal  from  a  mission  station  to  the  west  of  us. 
They   passed    through    a   very   populous   country. 

Our  work  progresses  slowly,  the  people  seem  dis- 
inclined to  send  their  children  to  school.  Super- 
stition and  witchcraft  prevail. 

Jan.  9,  1837. — The  yearly  dances  begin,  all  is 
confusion  and  eating  at  the  capital.  Crowds  assem- 
ble and  shout  the  king's  praises  as  they  dance. 
We  were  bidden,  had  to  go.  The  king  very 
gracious.  He  often  turned  to  ask  us,  "  Is  not  this 
very  fine  ?"  My  wife  and  little  boy  are  great  curi- 
osities. 

Were  glad  to  come  home,  found  the  Zulus  left  in 
charge  of  our  things  had  been  trusty.  They  were 
glad  to  see  us.  Three  salutations  were  not  enough. 
There  seems  to  be  no  way  of  doing  anything  in 
Zulu  land  but  by  connection  with  Dingaan. 

Jan.  19. — Monday.  Yesterday  the  people  came 
in  larger  numbers  and  asked  many  questions.      12 


girls  came  to-day  to  learn  to  sew,  and  Dingaan  sent 
a  little  girl  to  take  care  of  our  little  boy. 

May  I,  1837. — Our  monthly  concert.  We  have 
no  intelligence  to  cheer  our  hearts,  we  must  walk 
by  faith  alone.  We  can  report  some  progress  in 
the  school,  numbers  increase.  The  girls  are  espe- 
cially pleased  with  frocks  made  for  them  and  put 
on  while  here.  Their  parents  often  come  and  look 
in  on  them  with  delight. 

May  6. — This  evening  a  messenger  came,  saying 
the  king  was  sick  and  wanted  our  help.  The  man 
had  come  over  the  80  miles  in  a  day  and  a  half. 
Brother  G.  and  an  interpreter  start  in  the  morning. 

May  7. — Assembled  in  our  new  reed  school  house 
and  chapel.     A  Zulu  service  in  afternoon. 

May  12. — Word  from  Brother  G.  He  found 
the  king  had  a  cold  and  stricture  of  the  lungs. 
Brother  G.  proposed  a  blister.  Dingaan  was  afraid, 
wanted  it  tried  on  some  one  else  first. 

May  17. — Brother  G.  returned,  king  better. 
Brother  G.  has  brought  with  him  two  white  men 
from  the  interior,  men  just  adapted  to  aid  us.  They 
report  our  brethren  driven  from  their  station,  nar- 
rowly escaping  with  their  lives,  and  that  they  expect 
to  come  to  us." 


The  six  missionaries  left  at  Mosika,  the  inland 
mission,  had  hardly  commenced  their  work  when 
they  were  taken  ill  with  fever  occasioned  probably  by 
livino^  in  their  houses  before  the  mud  floors  were  dry. 

Mrs.  Wilson  died  Sept.  i8,  1836.  She  sent  this 
message  to  her  mother  and  friends  in  America : 
"  Tell  them  I  have  never  regretted  coming  to 
Africa."  The  others  recovered,  but  suffered  from 
rheumatic  affections  for  months. 

A  war  between  the  Dutch  Boers  and  Umzilikazi, 
in  whose  country  their  station  Mosika  was,  com- 
pelled our  missionaries  to  decide  to  give  the  field 
and  join  their  brethren  at  Natal.  Subsequent  events 
proved  it  to  have  been  a  wise  decision.  Not  know- 
ing of  a  pass  through  the  mountains,  they  went 
around  Grahamstown,  a  distance  of  1300  miles. 
Again  we  take  up  the  journal. 

"  May  21,  1837. — The  coldest  day  we  have  expe- 
rienced, 50°  to  ss''  all  day.     Got  round  the  fire. 

May  23. — Commenced  brick-making.  The  boys 
learn  their  part  tolerably  well. 

May  24. — Seven  girls  came  from  the  king — '  to 
learn  everything.' 

May  27. — The  king  sent  to  have  me  write  a  letter 
for  him. 


June  4. — Perhaps  200  present  to-day. 

June  8. — The  kingis  assembling  his  warriors  ;  for 
what,  one  knows  not.  They  have  been  passing 
along  from  the  kralls  all  day,  heads  covered  with 
feathers,  bodies  adorned  with  ox-tails,  all  carried 
big  shields.  Only  the  lame,  sick,  the  women  and 
children  left.  At  night  they  huddle  together  like 
animals. 

June  10. — Went  round  to-day  to  tell  the  people 
that  to-morrow  is  the  Sabbath.  They  cannot  keep 
the  count  of  days,  they  like  to  be  told.  We  have 
a  flag  on  a  staff  for  those  near.  We  need  a  bell  to 
call  the  whole  valley  together. 

Swearing  is  one  of  the  evils  of  the  country. 
They  have  sworn  by  Dingaan  as  the  highest  one. 
If  I  tell  them  of  God  they  turn  and  swear  by  Him. 

June  19. — Letters  and  books  from  home.  The 
king  has  sent  us  two  bright  boys.  About  40  pres- 
ent to-day. 

July  16,  1837. — Our  first  communion  in  Zulu 
land.     Brother  Grout,  wife  and  self. 

July  22. — After  our  brick-kiln  was  fired,  it  fell 
owing  to  the  heavy  rains. 

July  22. — War  between  the  Zulus  and  Boers 
goes  on. 


July  23. — Start  to-day  to  see  Dingaan  to  confer 
with  him  as  to  enlarging  our  work  in  his  land. 

Returned  Aug.  2. — Found  letters  from  America. 
13  months  since  the  last  came — dated  2  years  ago. 

Aug.  6. — Sabbath.  Gave  the  people  an  harangue, 
attentive.     A  set  discourse  is  too  cold  for  them. 

Aug.  7. — Monthly  concert — began  contributions. 

Aug.  9. — Children  learning  a  little  English. 
Gave  them  the  days  of  the  week.  I  find  the  nation 
is  trained  to  war ;  there  need  be  no  excuse  for 
attacking  another  chief,  you  simply  want  his  land 
or  his  cattle.  The  king  has  heard  of  brandy,  desires 
some. 

Ang.  20. — Nearly  100  people,  mostly  women, 
came  to  service.  One  woman  noticed  the  button- 
holes of  my  coat.  I  told  her  my  wife  made  them. 
'  How  many  wives  had  I  ?'  They  begin  to  get  the 
idea  of  praying  to  God  for  rain  and  corn. 

Aug.  21,  1837. — Brothers  Venable,  Wilson  and 
Grout  here.  The  two  first  reached  Natal  about  a 
month  ago.  They  hope  to  open  a  station  in  Din- 
gaan country  about  30  miles  from  here.  A  mes- 
senger has  come  from  the  king  asking  Mrs.  C.  to 
come  and  sew  his  blankets  ;  she  and  little  George 
must  return  with  the  messenger.     She  did  not  go. 


wrote  a  letter  to  the  king  and  I  sent  him  word  that 
Brothers  W.  and  V.   are  here  waiting  to  see  him. 

Aug.  25. — Brother  Grout  started  for  America 
this  afternoon  taking  with  him  his  motherless  child 
and  Dr.  Wilson's.  We  heard  this  morning  that  a 
vessel  was  in  the  Bay  and  as  it  is  uncertain  when 
another  opportunity  would  offer,  he  hastily  packed. 
May  God  prosper  him. 

Aug.  27. — Over  300  present  this  Sabbath. 

Aug.  29. — In  doubt  about  going  to  the  king ;  he 
has  sent  no  answer  to  my  message  that  two  other 
missionaries  had  arrived.  We  asked  God  that  if 
we  were  not  to  go  He  would  hinder  us.  He  has 
and  we  wait. 

Aug.  30. — Started — reached  the  king. 

Sept.  I. — He  sent  for  me  alone  to  read  Mrs.  C.'s 
letter  to  him.  He  then  wanted  to  see  the  others 
and  their  present,  a  few  blankets  and  beads.  He 
seemed  pleased. 

Sept.  2. — Have  been  looking  over  the  district. 
It  is  barren  now.  Dingaan's  war  with  Umzilikazi 
has  taken  off  the  people.  It  is  said  that  D.'s  sol- 
diers are  on  the  way  home,  have  taken  all  U.'s 
cattle  and  he  has  fled.  D.  is  pleased,  thinks  he  has 
now  no  rival. 


Sept.  3. — Sabbath.  The  people  went  out  to 
meet  the  soldiers,  much  shouting  and  dancing. 

Sept.  7. — The  king  has  said  that  Brothers  W. 
and  V.  may  live  at  Hlangezvva,  one  of  his  kralls  30 
miles  from  here,  (Ginani.)  We  can  then  count  at 
the  end  of  2^^  years  four  stations,  2  in  Zulu  land, 
2  in  Natal. 

Sept.  24. — Soldiers  in,  travelled  slowly  as  they 
drove  the  captured  cattle. 

Oct.  I. — Our  second  communion. 

Oct.  18. — The  king  sent  a  girl  to  help  us  in  our 
housework  ;  that  looks  friendly. 

Oct.  31. — 12  Boers  have  arrived  in  D.'s  territory 
and  want  to  settle.      1000  will  probably  follow. 

Nov.  4. — Busy  translating.  The  Boers  with  their 
governor,  Pieter  Retief,  returned.  The  king  refused 
to  see  them  till  they  bring  back  stolen  cattle. 

Nov.  20. — Some  rain,  am  planting  my  garden. 

Dec.  10. — These  people  are  destroying  each  other, 
kralls  are  deserted.  It  is  rumored  that  the  whites 
are  to  be  killed. 

Dec.  23. — I  start  to-morrow  to  see  the  king;  the 
state  of  affairs  demands  it. 

Jan.  I,  1838. — Was  treated  kindly,  spent  four 
days. 

46 


Jan.  3. — Had  quite  an  audience  to-day,  they  had 
come  for  different  purposes.  There  are  many  ways 
of  doing  good. 

Jan.  7. — The  children  are  having  their  arms 
burned  with  live  coals ;  scars  are  marks  of  beauty. 
One  girl  staid  at  home  to-day  because  she  dreamed 
she  was  eaten  by  a  wild  animal.  In  such  a  case  one 
must  not  go  out  the  next  day. 

Jan.  18. — Plastered  my  chimney  and  am  fitting 
up  my  study.  The  natives  wonder  and  admire ; 
to-day  they  seemed  suspicious  that  I  was  going 
beyond  the  king's  permission. 

Jan.  28. — Only  a  handful  came,  so  after  school  and 
meeting,  I  started  for  some  villages.  The  people  lis- 
tened, but  oh  they  think  only  of  to-day.  If  I  tell  them 
they  must  die,  they  ask,   '  What  is  going  to  kill  us  ?' 

Feb.  9. — Brothers  W.  and  V.  came  to  us  to-day ; 
their  work  is  suspended.  60  Boers  had  been  mur- 
dered, probably  by  the  king's  orders  (Retief  and 
his  companions.)  These  emigrants  thought  they 
were  safe,  were  eating  their  breakfast  when  D.'s 
men  overpowered  them.  It  is  said  he  feared  the 
Boers  as  neighbors. 

Feb.  13. — I  sent  to  the  king  that  I  was  not  afraid, 
that  I  trusted  in  my  God.     The  question  rises,  shall 


we  flee  the  coming  storm  ?  If  we  leave,  it  may  be 
difficult  to  return  when  war  is  over,  and  Christ's 
cause  may  suffer. 

Feb.  15. — The  king  sent  word  that  I  may  stay 
and  teach  if  I  wished. 

Feb.  20. — A  fire  came  near  burning  our  house. 

Feb.  23,  1838. — To-day  we  left  our  home  and 
people  with  sad  hearts.  It  has  seemed  for  some 
time  that  we  must  go  to  Natal  for  the  sea-air,  such 
is  the  state  of  my  health,  but  the  floods  have  pre- 
vented. Now  a  boat  arrives.  The  hostile  attitude 
of  the  Natal  people,  the  success  of  the  Boers,  the 
subversion  of  the  Zulus,  and  the  fear  that  amid  con- 
tending parties  we  might  be  counted  the  king's 
enemies  and  be  slain,  decided  us  to  leave  our  post 
for  the  present.  We  hastily  threw  some  clothing 
and  food  into  our  wagon  ;  sent  a  message  to  the 
king.  The  people  begged  for  presents  as  if  think- 
ing they  should  see  my  face  no  more — promised  to 
take  good  care  of  my  house  till  I  return.  We 
reached  the  Zugela  river ;  the  boat  was  at  the  oppo- 
site shore.  Our  driver  had  the  courage  to  swim 
over  among  the  alligators  and  bring  the  boat.  We 
crossed,  kindled  a  fire  but  the  rain  put  it  out,  and 
with  only  an  umbrella  to  shelter  us  we  were  drenched 

48 


before  morning.  Reached  a  place  of  safety  at  Natal 
Feb.  27,  1838.     The  people  are  bent  on  war. 

March  12,  1838. — Have  to-day  decided  to  leave 
the  country.  Ultimately  say  some.  Reasons  :  This 
is  likely  to  be  the  seat  of  war,  and  no  place  for  our 
families.  If  Dingaan  conquers  he  will  be  too  high- 
minded  to  receive  missionaries ;  in  case  the  Boers,  the 
natives  so  oppressed,  that  this  is  not  a  desirable  field. 

March  13. — Brother  V.  has  concluded  to  stay 
with  Brother  A.  and  watch  movements. 

March  14. — We  expect  to  go  on  board  to-morrow. 
My  heart  breaks  to  leave  this  country.  We  came 
to  Port  Elizabeth  five  days  ago.  The  school  here 
is  very  flourishing.  All  colors,  and  shades  of  color 
and  rank,  all  mixed  in  together,  all  interested  and 
knowing  no  distinction  but  merit.  Went  to  Port 
Elizabeth  by  water. 

May  9. — To-day  letters  from  home. 

May  18. — Decided  on  a  short  journey  for  Mrs. 
C.'s  health.  Gone  about  eight  days.  Travelled 
in  a  wagon  with  4  oxen.     Mrs.  C.  improved  a  little. 

Oct.  20. — I  am  at  a  loss  what  to  advise  the  Board. 
I  agree  with  them  that  the  question  is,  Shall  we  give 
up  S.  Africa  ?  it  has  good  climate  and  facilities  for 
reaching  interior  tribes.     Heard   of  two  Zulus  who 


had  come  from  Dingaan's  country  to  learn  more  of 
the  God.     So  our  seed-sowing  may  not  be  in  vain. 

Oct.  21,  1838. — We  hear  that  100  soldiers  were 
embarking  at  Cape  Town  to  take  military  possession 
of  Port  Natal  in  the  name  of  the  English.  This 
may  ultimately  greatly  change  our  prospects. 

Nov.  8,  1838. — This  morning  early,  tidings  were 
brought  to  me  '  a  man  child  is  born  unto  thee.' 
(^Henry)     He  is  lent  to  the  Lord  as  long  as  he  lives. 

Nov.  28. — The  English  governor  has  issued  a 
proclamation,  taking  possession  of  Port  Natal  in 
consequence  of  the  disturbed  state  of  affairs  among 
the  native  tribes,  and  the  prospect  of  their  extermi- 
nating each  other.  A  fort  to  be  erected  ;"  he  adds  : 
"The  sole  object  being  to  prevent  the  country  being 
held  by  any  of  the  hostile  parties,  the  occupation  to 
be  purely  military  and  not  at  all  the  nature  of  col- 
onization or  annexation  to  the  crown  of  Great 
Britain  as  a  colony. 

Given  at  Cape  Town,  Nov.  14,  1838." 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  with  their  two  sons  sailed  from 
Cape  Town  for  America,  Feb.  1839,  in  ship  Dover. 
Arrived  at  Boston,  Apr.  11,  1839.  They  went  to 
Webster,  Mass.,  Mrs.  C.'s  early  home.  In  August 
they  went  to  Dover,  Mass.     Mr.  C,  still  hoping  that 


they  might  ultimately  return  to  the  work  in  Africa, 
was  anxious  to  be  doing  something  for  the  Master 
while  he  waited.  For  nearly  two  years  he  was 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Dover, 
"  preaching  with  zeal,"  when  he  was  seized  with 
hemorrhage  of  the  lungs.  Resigned,  June,  1841, 
and  went  to  Troy,  where  his  widowed  mother  was 
living  with  her  son-in-law  Jonathan  Edwards,  who 
married  Maria  Champion.  An  only  daughter 
Susanna  was  born  in  Dover,  March  23,  1841.  She 
died  at  Troy,  Oct.  13,  of  the  same  year. 

Leaving  the  two  little  boys  in  charge  of  their 
grandmother,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  sailed  from  New 
York  for  Santa  Cruz,  Nov.  16.  The  oldest  son 
George  died  of  scarlet  fever  at  Troy,  Nov.  21. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  arrived  at  Santa  Cruz,  Nov.  26. 
After  three  weeks  of  great  suffering  and  weakness 
from  repeated  hemorrhages,  Mr.  C.  died  December 
17,  1 841,  aged  31 ;  was  buried  at  Santa  Cruz. 

After  Mrs.  C.'s  return  to  America  she  resided 
most  of  the  time  in  Boston.  She  died  of  consump- 
tion at  B.  July  8,  1846  ;  was  buried  in  Oxford, 
Mass.,  by  the  side  of  her  little  boy  and  girl. 

Sarah  E.  Champion.  {Mrs.  Henry.) 


DATE  DUE 

'^--^♦"'^H'^ff*^ 

Demco,  Inc.  38-293 


